Guardrail safety system and method

ABSTRACT

A guardrail safety system is adapted for being temporarily installed at an elevated unfinished opening in a building under construction. The guardrail safety system includes a pair of cooperating brackets adapted for attachment to opposing vertical sides of the building at the elevated unfinished opening. At least one of the brackets has a downward extending lanyard tab adapted to reside adjacent a floor of the building. A protective rail is carried at its opposite ends by the first pair of cooperating brackets. The first lanyard tab functions to space the first protective rail above the floor of the building at the elevated unfinished opening, such that the first protective rail forms a toe rail at the unfinished opening. A flexible lanyard is attached at one end to the lanyard tab of the first pair of brackets and is attached at its opposite end to the first protective rail.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates broadly and generally to a guardrailsafety system and method. The exemplary safety system and method isparticularly applicable for fall prevention at construction sites.

Falls are the leading cause of death and serious injury in constructionfor workers six feet or more above lower levels. Employers must provideeffective fall prevention systems in such environments in order tosafeguard their workers. Prior to the invention, temporary rails atelevated openings in unfinished buildings were often removed, discardedand not properly maintained thereby creating immediate fall hazards. Inexemplary embodiments, the present invention remedies this problem byestablishing a temporary guardrail system that allows ready andconvenient removal/reinstall at elevated unfinished openings toaccommodate the safe loading of supplies into the buildings.

SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are describedbelow. Use of the term “exemplary” means illustrative or by way ofexample only, and any reference herein to “the invention” is notintended to restrict or limit the invention to exact features or stepsof any one or more of the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the presentspecification. References to “exemplary embodiment,” “one embodiment,”“an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” and the like, may indicate thatthe embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodimentnecessarily includes the particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,”or “in an exemplary embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the sameembodiment, although they may.

It is also noted that terms like “preferably”, “commonly”, and“typically” are not utilized herein to limit the scope of the inventionor to imply that certain features are critical, essential, or evenimportant to the structure or function of the invention. Rather, theseterms are merely intended to highlight alternative or additionalfeatures that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment ofthe present invention.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure comprisesa guardrail safety system adapted for being temporarily installed at anelevated unfinished opening in a building under construction. Theelevated unfinished opening is defined by at least a floor and opposingvertical sides of the building under construction. The guardrail safetysystem includes a first pair of cooperating brackets adapted forattachment to the opposing vertical sides of the building at theelevated unfinished opening. At least one of the brackets of the firstpair comprises a first downward extending lanyard tab adapted to resideadjacent the floor of the building. A first protective rail is carriedat its opposite ends by the first pair of cooperating brackets. Thefirst lanyard tab functions to space the first protective rail above thefloor of the building at the elevated unfinished opening, such that thefirst protective rail forms a toe rail at the unfinished opening. Afirst flexible lanyard is attached at one end to the first lanyard tabof the first pair of brackets and is attached at its opposite end to thefirst protective rail. A second pair of cooperating brackets is adaptedfor attachment to opposing vertical sides of the building a spaceddistance above the first pair of cooperating brackets. At least one ofthe brackets of the second pair has a second downward extending lanyardtab. A second protective rail is carried at its opposite ends by thesecond pair of cooperating brackets, such that the second protectiverail resides a spaced distance above the first protective rail. A secondflexible lanyard is attached at one end to the second lanyard tab of thesecond pair of brackets and is attached at an opposite end to the secondprotective rail.

According to another exemplary embodiment, each bracket of the firstpair has a generally U-shaped integrally formed structure having spacedapart sides walls and a bottom wall.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the lanyard tab depends froman underside of the bottom wall of the bracket of the first pair.

According to another exemplary embodiment, each bracket of the secondpair has a generally U-shaped integrally formed structure comprisingspaced apart sides walls and a bottom wall.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the lanyard tab depends froman underside of the bottom wall of the bracket of the second pair.

According to another exemplary embodiment, one bracket of each of thefirst and second pairs is integrally formed with an elongated flatvertical bracket bar adapted for mounting to one of the vertical sidesof the building at the elevated unfinished opening.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the first and secondprotective rails are adapted to extend parallel to one another at theelevated unfinished opening of the building.

According to another exemplary embodiment, each of the first and secondprotective rails comprises an OSHA safety color. Exemplary OSHA safetycolors include yellow, orange and red.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the first and secondprotective rails are freely removable from respective first and secondpairs of brackets. The term “freely removable” as used herein meansfreely supported by the brackets without the use of fasteners, such thateach protective rail is capable of being readily lifted from thecooperating brackets and lowered (or pivoted into the building) in orderto temporarily unblock the unfinished opening when receiving a load ofconstruction materials through the opening.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the first and secondprotective rails are each tethered only at one end to the brackets byrespective lanyards. The term “lanyard” refers broadly herein to anyform of cord, line, cable, rope, chain or other structure capable oftethering the protective rail to the bracket.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the brackets of the first andsecond pairs comprise a plurality of preformed fastener holes.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a third pair of cooperatingbrackets is adapted for attachment to opposing vertical sides of thebuilding a spaced distance above the second pair of cooperatingbrackets. At least one of the brackets of the third pair has a thirddownward extending lanyard tab. A third protective rail is carried atits opposite ends by the third pair of cooperating brackets, such thatthe third protective rail resides a spaced distance above the secondprotective rail. A third flexible lanyard is attached at one end to thethird lanyard tab of the third pair of brackets and is attached at itsopposite end to the third protective rail.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the first, second and thirdprotective rails are equally spaced and adapted to extend parallel toone another at the elevated unfinished opening of the building.

According to another exemplary embodiment, one bracket of each of thefirst, second and third pairs is integrally formed with an elongatedflat vertical bracket bar adapted for mounting to one of the verticalsides of the building at the elevated unfinished opening.

In another exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure comprises amethod for protecting workers against falls from heights at a worksite.The method includes temporarily installing a guardrail safety system atan elevated unfinished opening in a building under construction. Theelevated unfinished opening is defined by at least a floor and opposingvertical sides of the building. Temporarily installing the guardrailsafety system comprises attaching a first pair of cooperating bracketsto the opposing vertical sides of the building at the elevatedunfinished opening. At least one of the brackets of the first pair has afirst downward extending lanyard tab adapted to reside adjacent thefloor of the building. A first protective rail is then supported at itsopposite ends by the first pair of cooperating brackets. The firstlanyard tab functions to space the first protective rail above the floorof the building at the elevated unfinished opening, such that the firstprotective rail forms a toe rail at the unfinished opening. A firstflexible lanyard is attached at one end to the first lanyard tab of thefirst pair of brackets and is attached at an opposite end to the firstprotective rail. A second pair of cooperates brackets is attached toopposing vertical sides of the building a spaced distance above thefirst pair of cooperating brackets. At least one of the brackets of thesecond pair has a second downward extending lanyard tab. A secondprotective rail is supported at its opposite ends by the second pair ofcooperating brackets, such that the second protective rail resides aspaced distance above the first protective rail. A second flexiblelanyard is attached at one end to the second lanyard tab of the secondpair of brackets and is attached an opposite end to the secondprotective rail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the following drawing figures, whereinlike numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exemplary guardrail safety systeminstalled at an elevated unfinished opening of a building underconstruction;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the exemplary guardrail safety system withvarious component parts separated away from their assembled locations;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the bottom protectiverail (“toe rail”) spaced above the floor by the bracket lanyard tab;

FIG. 4 is a further fragmentary view showing the portion of the toe railspaced above the floor by the bracket lanyard tab;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative exemplary guardrailsafety system installed at an elevated unfinished opening of a buildingunder construction; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the alternative guardrail safety systemwith various component parts separated away from their assembledlocations.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE

The present invention is described more fully hereinafter with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which one or more exemplary embodimentsof the invention are shown. Like numbers used herein refer to likeelements throughout. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be operative, enabling, and complete.Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to beillustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention,which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any andall equivalents thereof. Moreover, many embodiments, such asadaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements,will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein andfall within the scope of the present invention.

Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Unlessotherwise expressly defined herein, such terms are intended to be giventheir broad ordinary and customary meaning not inconsistent with thatapplicable in the relevant industry and without restriction to anyspecific embodiment hereinafter described. As used herein, the article“a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item isintended, the term “one”, “single”, or similar language is used. Whenused herein to join a list of items, the term “or” denotes at least oneof the items, but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list.

For exemplary methods or processes of the invention, the sequence and/orarrangement of steps described herein are illustrative and notrestrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, although stepsof various processes or methods may be shown and described as being in asequence or temporal arrangement, the steps of any such processes ormethods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequenceor arrangement, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps insuch processes or methods generally may be carried out in variousdifferent sequences and arrangements while still falling within thescope of the present invention.

Additionally, any references to advantages, benefits, unexpectedresults, or operability of the present invention are not intended as anaffirmation that the invention has been previously reduced to practiceor that any testing has been performed. Likewise, unless statedotherwise, use of verbs in the past tense (present perfect or preterit)is not intended to indicate or imply that the invention has beenpreviously reduced to practice or that any testing has been performed.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, a guardrail safety systemaccording to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure isillustrated in FIG. 1 and shown generally at broad reference numeral 10.The guardrail safety system 10 is intended for temporarily installationat an elevated unfinished opening 11 in a building “B” underconstruction, and functions to prevent falls through the opening 11during operational periods of high work activity at the constructionsite. The elevated opening 11 is defined by a floor 14, opposingvertical sides 15, 16 comprising one or more jack studs and a header18—collectively forming a loading port (or “zone”) for the entry ofconstruction supplies into the building “B”.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the exemplary guardrail safety system10 includes pairs of cooperating vertically-spaced metal brackets 21, 22welded to respective flat metal bracket bars 23, 24. The verticalbracket bars 23, 24 have a number preformed fasteners holes 25 designedto receive screws 26 (e.g., #12×1.5-inch screws or 8D Duplex Head Nails)sufficient to temporarily affix the bracket bars 23, 24 to opposinginwardly facing surfaces of vertical building sides 15, 16. As bestshown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, each bracket 21, 22 has a generally U-shapedintegrally formed (e.g., welded) cradle-type structure comprising spacedapart sides walls 31, 32 and a bottom wall 33. The side walls 31, 32 ofeach exemplary bracket are 4-inch×4-inch and the bottom wall 33 is4-inch×2-inch. The brackets 21, 22 cooperate to receive and freely holdopposite ends of a protective horizontal rail 35. Alternatively, therail ends may be temporarily affixed to the brackets 21, 22 using screws36 or other suitable fasteners inserted through preformed fastener holes38. Each bracket 21, 22 may also comprise an integrally formed (e.g.,welded) lanyard tab 41 depending from an underside of the bottom wall 33and having an attachment hole 42 for securing one end of a flexiblelanyard 44. The exemplary lanyard tab 41 is 2-inch×2-inch. The oppositeend of the flexible lanyard 44 is affixed to the protective rail 35 byscrew 46 or other hardware. The exemplary lanyard tabs 41 of eachbracket pair are oriented parallel to the protective rail 35.

In the embodiment shown, the guardrail safety system 10 comprises threeparallel equally-spaced protective rails 35—the top and bottomhorizontal rails each being spaced apart from the center horizontal raila distance of between 12-18 inches (e.g., 16 inches). In other exemplaryembodiments, the guardrail safety system 10 may incorporate only asingle protective rail, two spaced-apart protective rails or any othernumber of spaced-apart rails. Each exemplary rail 35 may comprise a2-inch×4-inch (or 2-inch×6-inch) wood board. The guardrail safety system10 is particularly applicable for mounting to building surfaces whichrun perpendicular to the protective horizontal rails 35. The pairs ofbrackets 21, 22 and protective rails 35 may be painted in ahighly-visible OSHA safety color including yellow, orange or red. Thesafety color allows workers to readily visually identify designatedelevated loading ports within the building under construction.

Each flexible lanyard 44 may be fabricated of 12-inch to 18-inch metalwire. The three lanyards 44 are attached to the brackets 22 and rails 35at the same side of the unfinished opening 11, as shown in FIG. 1. Whenloading materials through the opening 11, workers can quickly andconveniently lift the protective rails 35 from their cooperatingbrackets 21, 22, and then swing the untethered end of each rail 35inwardly into the building to unblock the loading space. The lanyards 44effectively tether the protective rails 35 to the brackets 22 to ensurethat all components of the safety guardrail system 10 stay together atthe worksite. When the protective rails 35 are removed for receivingmaterials into the building, the lanyard tabs 42 of opposite brackets 21may be used to attach (through tab opening 42) the lanyard of a personalsafety harness worn by a worker.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the lanyard tabs 41 of brackets 21,22 additionally function to precisely and uniformly space the lowermostprotective rail 35 a predetermined distance (e.g., 2.0 inches) above thefloor 14 of the building “B”. The lowermost protective rail 35 therebyforms a safety “toe rail” at the unfinished opening 11. The uniform toerail spacing allows for water drainage and sweeping of dirt and otherloose debris from the building floor 14, prevents feet from slipping offan otherwise unprotected edge of the opening 11, and prevents tools andother construction implements from being inadvertently kicked or droppedthrough the unfinished opening 11 by active workers.

A further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is illustratedin FIGS. 5 and 6. The exemplary guardrail safety system 50 includes apair of cooperating metal J-shaped brackets 51, 52. The brackets 51, 52have a number preformed fasteners holes 54 designed to receive screws 56(e.g., #12×1.5-inch screws or 8D Duplex Head Nails) sufficient totemporarily affix the brackets 51, 52 to surfaces adjacent verticalsides 61, 62 of the building “B” at the unprotected opening 71. Eachbracket 51, 52 has a short vertical front wall 72, a horizontal bottomwall 73, and a long vertical back wall 74. The front wall 72 is 4-inchestall×2-inches wide, the bottom wall 73 is 2-inch×2-inch, and the backwall 74 is 16-inches tall×2-inches wide. The brackets 51, 52 cooperateto receive and freely hold opposite ends of a protective horizontal rail75. Alternatively, the rail ends may be temporarily affixed to thebrackets 51, 52 using screws 76 inserted through preformed fastenerholes 78. Each bracket 51, 52 may also comprise an integrally formedlanyard tab 81 depending from an underside of the bottom wall 73 andhaving an attachment hole 82 for securing one end of a flexible lanyard84. The exemplary lanyard tab 81 is 2-inch×2-inch. The opposite end ofthe flexible lanyard 84 is affixed to the protective rail 75 by screw 86or other hardware. The exemplary lanyard tabs 81 are orientedperpendicular to the protective rail 75. The exemplary guardrail safetysystem 50 of this embodiment is particular applicable for mounting tobuilding surfaces which run parallel to the protective horizontal rail75.

For the purposes of describing and defining the present invention it isnoted that the use of relative terms, such as “substantially”,“generally”, “approximately”, and the like, are utilized herein torepresent an inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed toany quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or otherrepresentation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent thedegree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a statedreference without resulting in a change in the basic function of thesubject matter at issue.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described above. Noelement, act, or instruction used in this description should beconstrued as important, necessary, critical, or essential to theinvention unless explicitly described as such. Although only a few ofthe exemplary embodiments have been described in detail herein, thoseskilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications arepossible in these exemplary embodiments without materially departingfrom the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly,all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope ofthis invention as defined in the appended claims.

In the claims, any means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover thestructures described herein as performing the recited function and notonly structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus,although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that anail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together,whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment offastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.Unless the exact language “means for” (performing a particular functionor step) is recited in the claims, a construction under 35 U.S.C. §112(f) [or 6th paragraph/pre-AIA] is not intended. Additionally, it isnot intended that the scope of patent protection afforded the presentinvention be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found hereinthat does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.

What is claimed is:
 1. A guardrail safety system adapted for beingtemporarily installed at an elevated unfinished opening in a buildingunder construction, the elevated unfinished opening being defined by atleast a floor and opposing vertical sides of the building, saidguardrail safety system comprising: a first pair of cooperating bracketsadapted for attachment to the opposing vertical sides of the building atthe elevated unfinished opening, at least one of said brackets of saidfirst pair comprising a first downward extending lanyard tab adapted toreside adjacent the floor of the building; a first protective railcarried at respective opposite ends by said first pair of cooperatingbrackets, wherein said first lanyard tab functions to space said firstprotective rail above the floor of the building at the elevatedunfinished opening; a first flexible lanyard attached at one end to saidfirst lanyard tab of said first pair of brackets and attached at anopposite end to said first protective rail; a second pair of cooperatingbrackets adapted for attachment to opposing vertical sides of thebuilding a spaced distance above said first pair of cooperatingbrackets, and at least one of said brackets of said second paircomprising a second downward extending lanyard tab; a second protectiverail carried at respective opposite ends by said second pair ofcooperating brackets, such that said second protective rail resides aspaced distance above said first protective rail; and a second flexiblelanyard attached at one end to said second lanyard tab of said secondpair of brackets and attached at an opposite end to said secondprotective rail.
 2. A guardrail safety system according to claim 1,wherein each bracket of said first pair has a generally U-shapedintegrally formed structure comprising spaced apart sides walls and abottom wall.
 3. A guardrail safety system according to claim 2, whereinsaid lanyard tab depends from an underside of the bottom wall of saidbracket of said first pair.
 4. A guardrail safety system according toclaim 1, wherein each bracket of said second pair has a generallyU-shaped integrally formed structure comprising spaced apart sides wallsand a bottom wall.
 5. A guardrail safety system according to claim 4,wherein said lanyard tab depends from an underside of the bottom wall ofsaid bracket of said second pair.
 6. A guardrail safety system accordingto claim 1, wherein one bracket of each of said first and second pairsis integrally formed with an elongated flat vertical bracket bar adaptedfor mounting to one of the vertical sides of the building at theelevated unfinished opening.
 7. A guardrail safety system according toclaim 1, wherein said first and second protective rails are adapted toextend parallel to one another at the elevated unfinished opening of thebuilding.
 8. A guardrail safety system according to claim 1, whereineach of said first and second protective rails comprises an OSHA safetycolor.
 9. A guardrail safety system according to claim 1, wherein saidfirst and second protective rails are freely removable from respectivefirst and second pairs of brackets.
 10. A guardrail safety systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said first and second protective rails areeach tethered only at one end to said brackets by respective lanyards.11. A guardrail safety system according to claim 1, wherein saidbrackets of said first and second pairs comprise a plurality ofpreformed fastener holes.
 12. A guardrail safety system according toclaim 1, and comprising: a third pair of cooperating brackets adaptedfor attachment to opposing vertical sides of the building a spaceddistance above said second pair of cooperating brackets, and at leastone of said brackets of said third pair comprising a third downwardextending lanyard tab; a third protective rail carried at respectiveopposite ends by said third pair of cooperating brackets, such that saidthird protective rail resides a spaced distance above said secondprotective rail; and a third flexible lanyard attached at one end tosaid third lanyard tab of said third pair of brackets and attached at anopposite end to said third protective rail.
 13. A guardrail safetysystem according to claim 12, wherein said first, second and thirdprotective rails are equally spaced and adapted to extend parallel toone another at the elevated unfinished opening of the building.
 14. Aguardrail safety system according to claim 12, wherein one bracket ofeach of said first, second and third pairs is integrally formed with anelongated flat vertical bracket bar adapted for mounting to one of thevertical sides of the building at the elevated unfinished opening.
 15. Amethod for protecting workers against falls from heights at a worksite,said method comprising: temporarily installing a guardrail safety systemat an elevated unfinished opening in a building under construction, theelevated unfinished opening being defined by at least a floor andopposing vertical sides of the building, wherein temporarily installingthe guardrail safety system comprises: attaching a first pair ofcooperating brackets to the opposing vertical sides of the building atthe elevated unfinished opening, at least one of the brackets of thefirst pair comprising a first downward extending lanyard tab adapted toreside adjacent the floor of the building; supporting a first protectiverail at respective opposite ends by the first pair of cooperatingbrackets, wherein the first lanyard tab functions to space the firstprotective rail above the floor of the building at the elevatedunfinished opening; attaching a first flexible lanyard at one end to thefirst lanyard tab of the first pair of brackets and attaching anopposite end of the first flexible lanyard to the first protective rail;attaching a second pair of cooperating brackets to opposing verticalsides of the building a spaced distance above the first pair ofcooperating brackets, and at least one of the brackets of the secondpair comprising a second downward extending lanyard tab; supporting asecond protective rail at respective opposite ends by the second pair ofcooperating brackets, such that the second protective rail resides aspaced distance above the first protective rail; and attaching a secondflexible lanyard one end to the second lanyard tab of the second pair ofbrackets and attaching an opposite end of the second flexible lanyard tothe second protective rail.
 16. A method according to claim 15, whereinthe first and second protective rails are freely removable fromrespective first and second pairs of brackets.
 17. A method according toclaim 15, wherein the first and second protective rails are eachtethered only at one end to the brackets by respective lanyards.
 18. Amethod according to claim 15, wherein the first and second protectiverails are adapted to extend parallel to one another at the elevatedunfinished opening of the building.
 19. A method according to claim 15,wherein each of the first and second protective rails comprises an OSHAsafety color.
 20. A method according to claim 15, wherein one bracket ofeach of the first and second pairs is integrally formed with anelongated flat vertical bracket bar adapted for mounting to one of thevertical sides of the building at the elevated unfinished opening.